This is a great picture of the bird. These little ones are the most difficult.

Just general pointers when doing bird photography. It does not go this particular picture, but serves as some guideline in general. First try to get the whole bird in focus - if not, concentrate on getting the eyes in focus. The bird should be identifiable - means the whole bird, not hiding the head, losing the feet in the crop or any of that. Some birds differs from similar looking birds because of breast colours or leg colours or similar - means that it should be clear in the pic. Which birds these are, means you should know something about birds.

Pictures of flying birds are even more difficult but if you get it right, they are very exciting to view.

And then you can have pictures of birds where you are not really showing the bird, but the motion it creates - I am thinking of a recent one by Neil of the hadeda taking of against a red sunset.

I like what you have so far and remember your gulls and swans from the past - real good stuff.

You need do nothing to this shot as it's spot on. In my limited experience I have to go with Louis as all I ever try to do with birds is have their eyes in focus while capturing the whole bird and you do that ever time anyway so this should be a very nice series and I for one can't wait to see it.

This really is a spectacular shot, Ellie, and is going into my Likeys. The composition, the DOF, the angles, the colors--all of it. You have done a splendid job and I, for one, can't think of a way to improve it. I do love it's feet hanging on in particular!

Good evening Ellie. I remember these birds nicking the cream off the top of the milk on the doorstep, when I was a kid in England, so pleasant childhood memories indeed, are evoked by this very nice photo. Very nicely captured indeed, DOF spot on and in general, a very good image. Kind regards, Neil.

Without appearing as a bit of a tit Ellie! What are you doing feeding your birds Mcdonalds? You know I'm not really a fluffy furry lover but I can recognise a perfectly framed and focused image of a very small target at range! I can see the feather detail perfectly, great shot El. Mal